Rand Paul takes voter rights fight home

Sen. Rand Paul took his push for restoring felons’ voting rights to the state level on Wednesday, testifying before a Kentucky Legislature committee and urging his home state to lead the way.

The Republican lawmaker was testifying before the state Senate State and Local Government Committee at midday on Wednesday to advocate passage of a bill that would give felons back the right to vote at the end of their sentence, parole or probation through a constitutional amendment.

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Paul tweeted Wednesday morning about his push for voting rights restoration, both at the federal and state level.

Today I will testify in front of KY Senate Committee in support of restoring voting rights for many who have paid their debt to society— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) February 19, 2014

The right to vote is a sacred one. I’m pushing for restoring voting rights at state level, and I also will push for changes at federal level— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) February 19, 2014

The Kentucky bill, H.B. 70, had already cleared the House, but a conference committee will have to resolve differences between the Senate and House versions before voters will be able to ratify the amendment to the state constitution in November. The Senate version contains a five-year wait period.

Paul expressed optimism that a deal would be reached.

“I think they’ll achieve a compromise,” Paul said, according to the Herald-Leader. “But I would say that we’ve gone a long way from a bill that was never voted on in the Senate, never had a hearing on, to getting a hearing and getting a vote today, I think it’s a huge step forward.”

Criminal justice reform has been a key issue for Paul, an area in which he has found himself in agreement with Democrats including Attorney General Eric Holder, who also pushed for felon voting rights last week.